Jocelyn Bituag Gragasin

Jocelyn Bituag Gragasin, was born and raised in the mountainous, agricultural province of Quirino, Jocelyn grew up in a close-knit family of five children—two older brothers and two older sisters—with her being the youngest. Her parents, both now deceased, instilled in her values of hard work, compassion, and respect—qualities nurtured amid a rural setting where rice and corn farming dominate local life. Jocelyn completed her secondary education at Cabulay High School in 1998, completing her studies just as her siblings were growing into adulthood. Now at 42, Jocelyn is married to a local farmer, also 42. They have a grown daughter of 23 and a son of 17. Despite the absence of her parents, Jocelyn shoulders family responsibilities with grace and dedication—values she continues to reflect in her work. Jocelyn’s journey as a domestic helper spans several countries and nearly 15 years of international employment: Lebanon (May 2009 – August 2012) Her first overseas assignment was with a Lebanese family living in a 7 bedroom, three storey home—parents and two adult children aged 22 and 20. Working alongside another maid, she handled cleaning, laundry, ironing, and cooking. This was her introduction to collaborative household management and exposure to Middle Eastern cuisine. Qatar (November 2012 – November 2019) She then spent seven years with a Qatari household in a six bedroom, two storey home. The family included a couple, two adult children (23 and 20), and a teenager of 17. Here Jocelyn grew into an “all around helper,” managing everything from cooking and cleaning to day to day household operations. This prolonged tenure taught her resilience and versatility in a demanding environment. Singapore (February 2021 – May 2023) Her next assignment was with a Singaporean-Malaysian family in a spacious 6 room landed property with a basement. The household comprised parents, two grown children, a 3 year old toddler, and a newborn. Jocelyn took on childcare tasks—feeding, bathing, preparing school things, playing with children—while maintaining the household, cooking, laundry, ironing, and following employer instructions. This role deepened her caregiving skills and attuned her to the dynamics of a multicultural family. Singapore (February 2024 – Aug 2024) Returning briefly to Singapore, she joined a Chinese family living in a 2 bed private apartment. The household included a couple, a mobile elder woman in her 60s, and a 4 year old child. Jocelyn’s duties expanded to include cleaning, laundry, ironing, marketing (grocery shopping), cooking, pet care (two dogs), and even car washing. Her adaptability and willingness to learn new tasks stood out in this varied assignment. Philippines (June 2024 – Present) Back home, she works as a live-in companion/helper for a Filipino family in a 3 bedroom, two storey house. Her routine includes caring for the child—sending to and from school—and performing household chores. This local role reflects her continued commitment to caregiving and home management. Jocelyn describes herself as confident and capable in caring for children—from newborns to school-age—handling feeding, bathing, preparing school items, and nurturing them with patience and warmth. She’s also ready to assist in elderly care and is willing to undergo nursing training if required. In the kitchen, she takes pride in cooking Filipino, Arabic, and Chinese dishes—drawing from her international experiences. She follows recipe books well and is enthusiastic about learning new cuisines. Beyond cooking, she’s prepared to help with gardening, pet care, and car washing when asked. She qualifies for fast deployment, as she is exempted from OWWA training and seminars, and only needs to complete the standard POEA processing required for Filipino Household Service Workers bound for overseas employment.